Exothermic semi-rigid plastic stick

ABSTRACT

A semi-rigid, portable, warming device contains chemical reactants that produce heat when mixed. The warming device includes at least two chambers, which contain the chemical reactants separately, until a force is applied to cause the reactants to mix.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims the benefit of priority of Provisional U.S.Patent Application Ser. No. 61/348,990, filed May 27, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to a semi-rigid plastic stick that contains aformulation of chemicals that, when mixed together, produce anexothermic reaction. More specifically, the invention pertains to abendable, semi-rigid plastic stick that contains chemicals separatedfrom one another that, when mixed together, produce an exothermicreaction.

There are many situations where a semi-rigid, self-contained heatingapparatus would be beneficial. For example, in winter weather activitieswhere the user wants the heat to be directed to a certain area and forthe heat source to remain in place. Current technologies areinsufficient at either producing a self-contained, non-electric heat, orat directing the heat to a particular area without the concern of theheating element shifting in position.

Further a semi-rigid, self contained, heating apparatus can be used withspecially made receptacles to heat food or drink items when otheroptions are not available.

Items are known that produce exothermic heating reactions. One such itemis commonly referred to as a hand warmer, which consists of a durablebag containing chemicals that, when mixed together, produce anexothermic chemical reaction. Unfortunately such a product has little tono definitive shape, and as such the position of the heating elementinside shifts, causing the user to have to continuously reshape the itemand move it back into an optimal position.

Electric warmers that are rigid or semi-rigid are well known in the art.However, these items require a power source, such as an externalelectrical connection (e.g., access to a 120V electrical outlet) tooperate, making them disadvantageous to individuals not wanting anelectrical device. Further inherent in an electrical device, especiallyof a heating nature, is the danger of causing a spark or flame throughsome electrical failure, or the possibility of electric shock.

Other items are known that require a heat source to cause heat transferto the item. One such item is a sack of rice held within a decorativematerial. A user must warm the device in an oven or micro-wave whichheats the rice. The rice retains the heat for a relatively prolongedperiod to that it can be used immediately or for a limited timethereafter. One drawback with such an item is that a user can not selectwhen to have the heat released from the item. Once heated the rice willimmediately begin to dissipate the heat and return to ambienttemperatures.

The present invention provides an improved portable heat device. Theseand other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventivefeatures, will be apparent from the description of the inventionprovided herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable heat device according to embodiments of the present inventioncontains chemicals separated from one another that, when mixed together,produce an exothermic reaction. According to a preferred embodiment, theportable heat device is in a form of a stick that is durable and has aspecific shape to allow the user to position it without fear of undueshifting. Further, the device is chemical in nature, and thus isportable and negates the risk of shock or the like associated withelectrical items.

A combination of reactants that, when mixed together, result in anexothermic reaction. The reactants are separated from one another andare contained within a bendable, yet rigid plastic rod. The reactantscan be liquid or one can be in a solid or semi-solid form.

The plastic rod is configured with a sealed outer tube, and at least oneinner frangible ampoule containing one of the reactants. A compoundsurrounds the ampoule(s) containing another reactant. Rupturing theinner ampoule(s), as by bending the plastic rod, causes the reactants tomix, creating the exothermic reaction. The rod can also contain otherchemically reacting constituents to, for example, create achemiluminescent reaction in addition to the exothermic reaction, withinseparated chambers in a common rod.

In one aspect, the invention provides a self contained, personal warmingdevice. The personal warming device includes a sealed outer tube, afirst reactant contained within the sealed outer tube, and a secondreactant contained within the sealed outer tube. The first and secondreactants are maintained separated from one another. When desired, thefirst and second reactants are mixed with one another to create anexothermic reaction within the sealed outer tube. In an embodiment, thefirst reactant is contained within the sealed outer tube, while thesecond reactant is contained within a sealed frangible element withinthe sealed outer tube, such that the frangible element can be fracturedto mix the first and second reactants. In another embodiment, the firstand second reactants are contained within separate sealed frangibleelements within the sealed outer tube, such that the frangible elementscan be fractured to mix the first and second reactants. In someembodiment, the personal warming device can also include reactants that,when mixed with one another, create a chemiluminescent reaction.

In another aspect, the invention provides a portable warming device. Theportable warming device includes at least two chambers, which comprisesa first chamber and a second chamber, and at least two chemicalreactants contained in these chambers. The chemical reactants comprise afirst reactant, which is contained in the first chamber, and a secondreactant, which is contained in the second chamber. The first reactantis different from the second reactant, and when mixed together, theyproduce heat. Further, at least one of the first chamber and the secondchamber is configured to release the reactant contained in the chamberwhen a force is applied, such that the first reactant and the secondreactant are mixed together to produce heat.

In one embodiment, the second chamber is an ampoule, which is arrangedin a cavity of the first chamber. The first reactant is contained in aportion of the cavity of the first chamber, and the second reactant iscontained in the ampoule. The first chamber is formed of a semi-rigidpolymeric material that is bendable, and the ampoule is formed of afrangible material that ruptures when the portable warming device isbended or squeezed.

In another embodiment, the portable warming device includes an outercontainer and a plurality of ampoules arranged in a cavity of the outercontainer. In this embodiment the first chamber is a portion of theouter container that is not occupied by the ampoules, and the secondchamber is one of the ampoules, wherein each of the ampoules contains achemical reactant. The outer container can have a tubular shape andformed of a semi-rigid polymeric material. Each of the ampoules isformed of a frangible material that ruptures when a force is applied. Inone embodiment, at least one of the ampoules contains calcium oxide, andat least another one of the ampoules or the first chamber containswater. Further, some of the ampoules can contain other reactants, suchas magnesium. In some embodiments, at least two of the ampoules containreactants for a chemiluminescence reaction.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a stick warmer. The stickwarmer include an outer container, which contains a first chemicalreactant, and at least one ampoule arranged in the outer container, oneof which containing a second chemical reactant that is different fromthe first chemical reactant. The first chemical reactant and the secondchemical reactant produce heat when mixed. The outer container can havea tubular shape, and formed of a semi-rigid polymeric material that isbendable. In one embodiment, the stick warmer includes a first ampoule,a second ampoule, and a third ampoule arranged in the outer container,spaced from each other. Being arranged in the outer container containingthe first chemical reactant, the ampoules are surrounded by the firstchemical reactant. The ampoules are formed of a frangible material, andconfigured to rupture when a force is applied on the outer container bybending, squeezing or twisting. In some embodiments, the stick warmeralso includes chemical reactants for a chemiluminescence reaction. Insuch embodiments, the stick warmer produces heat and light when a forceis applied on the outer container by bending, squeezing or twisting.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, andthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The benefits and advantages of the present embodiments will become morereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art afterreviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a front view of a semi-rigid warming stickin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the warming stick of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a front view of a semi-rigid warming stickwith multiple ampoules according to a different embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in variousforms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be describedpresently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention andis not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsillustrated.

Referring now to the figures, in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, there isshown a warming stick 10 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The warming stick 10 generally includes an outer tubularcontainer 11 and an ampoule 13, which are configured to separatelycontain reactants, which can produce an exothermic reaction when mixed.As shown in FIG. 1, the ampoule 13 is smaller in size than the outertubular container 11. The ampoule 13 is arranged within a cavity 12 ofthe outer tubular container 11. The ampoule 13 holds a first reactant ina cavity 14. The outer tubular container 11 holds a second reactant in aportion of the cavity 12, which is not occupied by the ampoule 13. Thus,the ampoule 13, which contains the first reactant, is surrounded by thesecond reactant in the outer tubular container 11.

The outer tubular container 11 is a formed of a semi-rigid, yet bendablematerial. Suitable materials for the outer tubular container 11 includepolymeric materials that are semi-rigid to maintain a specific shape ofthe warming stick 10, yet sufficiently flexible to be bendable withoutbreaking For example, the outer tubular container 11 can be formed ofhigh density polyethylene, polyester, or other like plastics. The outertubular container 11 is a sealed container that can contain chemicalreactants, which can be a solid, a liquid, a gas, or mixtures thereof,without leakage. Although the outer tubular container 11 in thisembodiment has a tubular shape, in other embodiments, the outercontainer can be formed to have different shapes, such as circular,rectangular, etc.

The ampoule 13 is formed of a frangible material. Suitable materials forthe ampoule 13 include glass or polymeric materials that aresufficiently brittle to be frangible when a force is applied by theuser, for example, by squeezing or bending the warming stick 10. In theembodiment, the ampoule 13 is attached to the outer container 11.However, in other embodiments, the ampoule can be floating in thereactant contained in the outer container. The ampoule 13 is a sealedcontainer that can contain chemical reactants, which can be a solid, aliquid, a gas, or mixtures thereof, without leakage, such that thereactants contained in the ampoule 13 is kept away from the reactantsheld in the outer tubular container 11 until the desired time. Theampoule 13 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed of a glass and has a tubularshape, similar to that of the outer tubular container 11, but smaller insize. In other embodiments, the ampoule 13 can be formed to havedifferent shapes, such as circular, rectangular, etc., which can besimilar or different than the shape of the outer container.

In use, the warming stick 10 keeps the reactants separated from eachother until heat is desired. At such time, the user applies force on thewarming stick 10 by bending, squeezing or other similar actions, therebybreaking the ampoule 13 and releasing the second reactant contained inthe ampoule 13. When the second reactant mixes with the first reactant,the exothermic reaction starts and heat is released. The user may moveor shake the warming stick 10 to facilitate mixing of reactants and toincrease the heat output.

Those skilled in the art will understand that various chemicalcombinations can be used to create a controlled exothermic reaction thatcan be used in a personal warming device. Any such suitable combinationsof exothermic reaction reactants can be used for the warming stick 10.For example, calcium oxide (CaO) and water (H₂O) can be used as theprimary chemical reactants. Other reactants can includes copper sulfate(CuSO₄) and zinc (Zn) as well as magnesium (Mg) and water (H₂O).Multiple reactants can also be used, such as calcium oxide (CaO), water(H₂O) and magnesium (Mg). All such chemical combinations are within thescope of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the warming stick 10 contains calcium oxide (CaO) inthe ampoule 13 and water (H₂O) in the outer tubular container 11. Whenthe reactants are mixed together after the user bends the warming stick10, the following exothermic reaction is initiated to produce heat:

CaO(s)+H₂O(1)

Ca(OH)₂(aq)(ΔHr=−63.7 kJ/mol of CaO)

Although, reactant chambers of the warming stick 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 areprovided by arranging ampoule 13 within the cavity 12 of the outercontainer 11, in other embodiments, the reactant chambers may be provideby dividing the cavity of the outer container by one or more internalwalls. For example, the outer container may include an internal wall,which divides the cavity of the outer container into two chambers. Theinternal wall can be broken by bending or squeezing the warming stick toinitiate the exothermic reaction.

FIG. 3 illustrates a warming stick 20 according to another embodiment.The warming stick 20 is similar to the warming stick 10 of FIGS. 1 and2, but includes multiple ampoules 23, 25, 27, which are arranged in acavity 22 of an outer container 21, as it was with the warming stick 10.As it was with the warming stick 10, the ampoules 23, 25, 27 containchemical reactants. The ampoules 23, 25, 27 may contain a same reactantor different reactants. Similarly, the outer container 21 contains areactant in a portion of the cavity 22 that is not occupied by theampoules 23, 25, 27. When reactants in the ampoules 23, 25, 27 and thereactant in the outer container 21 are mixed after the user applies aforce on the warming stick 20, at least one exothermic reaction isproduces. In this embodiment, the user may decide to break the ampoules23, 25, 27 sequentially to control the heat output. In some embodiments,reactions for other types of reactions, such as a chemiluminescentreaction, are included in addition to the exothermic reaction reactants.In such embodiments, the warming stick 20 can release heat and glow indark at the same time.

In one embodiment, each of the ampoules 23, 25, 27 contains calciumoxide (CaO), and the outer container 21 contains water. When the userbends or squeezes the warming stick 20, the ampoules 23, 25, 27 break,and the calcium oxide (CaO) and water are mixed together to start theexothermic reaction. In another embodiment, the ampoules 23 and 27 maycontain calcium oxide (CaO), and the ampoule 25 contains magnesium (Mg),and the outer container 22 includes water. When the user squeezes orbends the warming stick 20, calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium (Mg), andwater are mixed to initiate exothermic reactions to release heat.

In yet another embodiment, two of the ampoules can contain reactants foran exothermic reaction, while the other ampoule and the outer containercontain reactants for a chemiluminescence. In some embodiments, a commonchemical reactant can be used for the exothermic reaction and thechemiluminescence reaction.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patentscited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent asif each reference were individually and specifically indicated to beincorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

1. A self contained, personal warming device, comprising: a sealed outertube; a first reactant contained within the sealed outer tube; and asecond reactant contained within the sealed outer tube, the first andsecond reactants being maintained separated from one another, whereinthe first and second reactants are mixed with one another to create anexothermic reaction within the sealed outer tube.
 2. The self contained,personal warming device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the firstreactant is contained within the sealed outer tube and the secondreactant is contained within a sealed frangible element within thesealed outer tube, and wherein the frangible element is fractured to mixthe first and second reactants.
 3. The self contained, personal warmingdevice in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first and second reactantare contained within separate sealed frangible elements within thesealed outer tube, and wherein the frangible elements are fractured tomix the first and second reactants.
 4. The self contained, personalwarming device in accordance with claim 1 including reactants that, whenmixed with one another, create a chemiluminescent reaction.
 5. Aportable warming device, comprising: at least two chambers, the at leasttwo chambers comprising a first chamber and a second chamber; at leasttwo chemical reactants contained in the at least two chambers, the atleast two chemical reactants comprising a first reactant and a secondreactant, wherein the first reactant is different from the secondreactant, wherein the first reactant and the second reactant produceheat when mixed together, wherein the first chamber contains the firstreactant, and the second chamber contains the second reactant, andwherein at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber isconfigured to release the reactant contained in the chamber when a forceis applied, such that the first reactant and the second reactant aremixed together to produce heat.
 6. The portable warming device of claim5, wherein the second chamber is arranged in a cavity of the firstchamber, the second chamber being an ampoule; wherein the first reactantis contained in a portion of the cavity of the first chamber, and thesecond reactant is contained in the ampoule.
 7. The portable warmingdevice of claim 6, wherein the first chamber is formed of a semi-rigidpolymeric material that is bendable, and the ampoule is formed of afrangible material that ruptures when the portable warming device isbended or squeezed.
 8. The portable warming device of claim 5, whereinthe portable warming device includes an outer container and a pluralityof ampoules arranged in a cavity of the outer container, wherein thefirst chamber is a portion of the outer container that is not occupiedby the ampoules, and the second chamber is one of the plurality ofampoules, wherein each of the ampoules contains a chemical reactant. 9.The portable warming device of claim 8, wherein at least two of theplurality of ampoules contain reactants for a chemiluminescencereaction.
 10. The portable warming device of claim 8, wherein the outercontainer has a tubular shape and formed of a semi-rigid polymericmaterial; and each of the plurality of ampoules is formed of a frangiblematerial that ruptures when a force is applied.
 11. The portable warmingdevice of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of ampoulescontains calcium oxide, and at least another one of the plurality of theampoules or the first chamber contains water.
 12. The portable warmingdevice of claim 11, wherein the first chamber contains water, and atleast one of the plurality of ampoules contains magnesium.
 13. A stickwarmer, comprising: an outer container, the outer container containing afirst chemical reactant; at least one ampoule arranged in the outercontainer, at least one of the at least one ampoule containing a secondchemical reactant that is different from the first chemical reactant;wherein the first chemical reactant and the second chemical reactantproduce heat when mixed.
 14. The stick warmer of claim 13, wherein theouter container has a tubular shape, and formed of a semi-rigidpolymeric material that is bendable.
 15. The stick warmer of claim 14,wherein the at least one ampoule is formed of a frangible material, theat least one ampoule being surrounded by the first chemical reactant.16. The stick warmer of claim 15, wherein the at least one ampoule isconfigured to rupture when a force is applied on the outer container bybending, squeezing or twisting.
 17. The stick warmer of claim 13,further containing chemical reactants for a chemiluminescence reaction.18. The stick warmer of claim 17, wherein the stick warmer produces heatand light when a force is applied on the outer container by bending,squeezing or twisting.
 19. The stick warmer of claim 13, wherein the atleast one ampoule comprises a first ampoule, a second ampoule, and athird ampoule arranged in the outer container, spaced from each other.